1
as in ripping
to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it
angrily tore the letter to shreds
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in yanking
to separate or remove by forceful pulling
tore the book from his hand
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in hurrying
to proceed or move quickly
she tore out of the room as soon as the phone started to ring
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tearing
Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 2025
Kraft was on pace to have an even stronger year in 2025, having already logged 32 catches for 489 yards and six touchdowns in eight games before tearing his ACL.
—Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2025
In addition, writing with them required great concentration to avoid splattering ink or tearing the paper with the sharp metal nib.
—New Atlas, 29 Oct. 2025
After tearing through the Bahamas, Melissa will accelerate into the Atlantic Ocean, potentially impacting Bermuda by Thursday and Friday.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025
Uncrumpling a dollar bill, feeding it into a pull tab machine then tearing back the strips, one by one, to reveal a possible win.
—Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 28 Oct. 2025
Mamdani, who also has a bright political future, is tearing the Democrat Party apart, splitting leftist radicals from moderate or even liberal Democrats.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 27 Oct. 2025
Ronnie watches helplessly from the projection booth as the baby flies around the theater, brutally tearing the others apart.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 Oct. 2025
Fred VanVleet, who started at point guard for Houston last season, will miss the entire year after tearing his ACL.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
Suddenly, there’s dozens of supervillains tearing the place (and each other) apart.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 2025
Kraft was on pace to have an even stronger year in 2025, having already logged 32 catches for 489 yards and six touchdowns in eight games before tearing his ACL.
—Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2025
In addition, writing with them required great concentration to avoid splattering ink or tearing the paper with the sharp metal nib.
—New Atlas, 29 Oct. 2025
After tearing through the Bahamas, Melissa will accelerate into the Atlantic Ocean, potentially impacting Bermuda by Thursday and Friday.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025
Uncrumpling a dollar bill, feeding it into a pull tab machine then tearing back the strips, one by one, to reveal a possible win.
—Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 28 Oct. 2025
Mamdani, who also has a bright political future, is tearing the Democrat Party apart, splitting leftist radicals from moderate or even liberal Democrats.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 27 Oct. 2025
Ronnie watches helplessly from the projection booth as the baby flies around the theater, brutally tearing the others apart.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 Oct. 2025
Fred VanVleet, who started at point guard for Houston last season, will miss the entire year after tearing his ACL.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 22 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tearing
Verb
-
The mayor called on ICE agents to leave the city, asserting that federal immigration authorities were ripping families apart and sowing chaos on Minneapolis streets.—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
7 Jan. 2026
-
When Miller tried to grab the mother’s gun, Adams tried to pull him away from it, ripping Miller’s shirt.—
Michelle L. Quinn,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Video of that incident shows a man identified by police as Calhoon lunging across the table, yanking it toward him and flipping it on its side while Turning Point promotional materials spilled onto the pavement.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Ciattarelli promises to lower energy costs immediately by yanking the state out of a regional greenhouse gas initiative, as well as any other environmental policy that voters are sick of.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
But one weekend in November, people who would typically be hurrying by, staring down at their phones, stopped.—
The Editors,
Curbed,
15 Dec. 2025
-
Butler began hurrying Boise State and pushing up the tempo, which allowed the Broncos to score off several backdoor cuts and slip screens for big dunks and layups at the rim.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
6 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
One spring day in Paris many years ago, my wife, Diana, a most penetrating photographer, capable of seeing like no one else, decided, as an experiment, to walk across the city blindfolded.—
Hisham Matar,
Harper's Magazine,
2 Aug. 2024
-
Since the war began in Gaza, more than six months ago, the Israeli magazine +972 has published some of the most penetrating reporting on the Israel Defense Forces’ conduct.—
Isaac Chotiner,
The New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2024
Verb
-
The 5-11 200-pound standout has accumulated mind-boggling stats through nine games -- 1,098 rushing yards and 17 TDs while grabbing a team-leading 42 passes for 974 yards and 18 scores.—
Mike Waters,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Nikola Jokic put up 26 points on 12 of 15 shooting, while also dishing out nine assists and grabbing nine rebounds.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The manufacturers and developers at the hearing told legislators that creating incentives, simplifying building codes and speeding up project reviews would help the industry grow.—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Dash camera video captured the teen speeding away from the traffic stop and narrowly missing a deputy standing in the road.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Morbidly Jewish finds Raanan at his most biting, acerbic, angry, Jewish, and, as always…loud.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
5 Jan. 2026
-
The conservative activist’s 42-minute video posted the day after Christmas quickly spread, prompting stepped up immigration enforcement, frozen federal funds and more biting rhetoric against the Somali community from President Donald Trump.—
Rebekah Riess,
CNN Money,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Cyclones’ usually elite defense ranks 11th in the Big 12 in rushing defense, 10th in passing defense and 14th in sacks.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Even so, the worries came rushing in.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tearing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tearing. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share